# Darwin's Theory Outshines Every Other Biological Invention by Christopher G. Langton > “I think that Darwin's invention of the theory of evolution by natural selection outshines them all. It is perhaps the only truly general theory in Biology, a field much more complex than physics. If we discover life elsewhere in the universe it is likely to be the only biological theory that will carry over from our terrestrial biology. Darwin's theory reduced tremendously the complication of zoological data. Critically, as with the telescope, it has put tremendous pressure on the previous world-view to accommodate man as "merely" a part of a much larger nature. This pressure is still largely being resisted, but the outcome is clear.” > **— Christopher G. Langton**, *1999, Edge Annual Question, “What Is The Most Important Invention In The Past Two Thousand Years?”* ## Sources and Context - **Direct Edge response and surrounding essay:** [computer scientist](https://www.edge.org/response-detail/10785) — Edge published this exact passage in its 1999 Annual Question collection, *WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INVENTION IN THE PAST TWO THOUSAND YEARS?*. The response page preserves the surrounding argument and qualifications. - **Complete local collection index:** [[research/Edge 1999 Full Quotation Curation|Edge 1999 Full Quotation Curation]] — retained source-first record for the complete response cohort and this passage's promotion status. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Edge|Edge]] - **Collection:** [[collections/Machine Succession|Machine Succession]] - **Article:** [[articles/The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley|Valley Roots]] - **Article:** [[articles/Digital Darwinism and the Invisible World of Machine Evolution|Digital Darwinism]] - **Article:** [[articles/We Were Never Going to Make It|Never Going to Make It!]] - **Wiki map:** [[wiki/Evolutionary Biology|Evolutionary Biology]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Evolutionary Biology|Evolutionary Biology]] - [[wiki/Charles Darwin|Charles Darwin]] - [[wiki/Natural Selection|Natural Selection]] - [[wiki/Unit of Selection|Unit of Selection]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “I think that Darwin's invention of the theory of evolution by natural selection outshines them all. It is perhaps the only truly general theory in Biology, a field much more complex than physics. If we discover life elsewhere in the universe it is likely to be the only biological theory that will carry over from our terrestrial biology. Darwin's theory reduced tremendously the complication of zoological data. Critically, as with the telescope, it has put tremendous pressure on the previous world-view to accommodate man as "merely" a part of a much larger nature. This pressure is still largely being resisted, but the outcome is clear.” — Christopher G. Langton, 1999, Edge Annual Question, “What Is The Most Important Invention In The Past Two Thousand Years?” https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-christopher-langton-darwin-s-theory-outshines-every ```